Sky Sports F1 journalist Craig Slater has shared what a Ferrari insider has told him after Lewis Hamilton’s move to the team in 2025.
When the announcement was made at the beginning of February that the seven-time world champion would be leaving Mercedes, it sent shockwaves throughout the sporting world that are rarely made by Formula 1.
Speaking to Stefano Domenicali on Sky Sports, Slater gave an insight into how the team are feeling about the 39-year-old’s upcoming switch.
Craig Slater shares what Ferrari insiders are saying about Lewis Hamilton
Right now, Lewis Hamilton will be looking across the paddock with envy at his rivals in red.
The 39-year-old Brit had a brilliant Sprint Race, standing on the podium alongside both Red Bull drivers.
However, a mistake in qualifying saw him go out in Q1 and start Sunday’s race in 18 and a gamble to start him on the soft tyres went disastrously.
He was trapped in the midfield and complained that his car was so slow he was complaining that he couldn’t catch Esteban Ocon’s Alpine.
Craig Slater has been finding out more about Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025 and one insider has shared their excitement about his arrival.
Ferrari are closing in on two decades since they last won either a Drivers’ or Constructors’ Championship.
The arrival of Hamiton ahead of major regulation changes in 2026 might finally help them end their drought.
READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Excitement building around Ferrari for Hamilton’s arrival
Speaking about Hamilton to Domenicali, Slater said: “I was speaking to one Ferrari insider who said that the team always gathers around the big man, the great champion, like it did [Michael] Schumacher I suppose. Maybe like [Fernando] Alonso.”
Some of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula 1 have driven for Ferrari and Hamilton adds his name to that list in 2025.
Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley has spoken in the past about how well Fernando Alonso did during his time at Ferrari despite the fact he couldn’t end their wait for a championship.
However, Michael Schumacher dominated the sport for years with the Maranello-based team alongside Rubens Barrichello as his teammate.
If Ferrari want to improve their chances even more, then they may want to continue pursuing Adrian Newey from Red Bull.
With the Ferrari insider suggesting to Slater that Hamilton will get the best support from the team due to his reputation, giving him the best car possible is just as important.
The man with the ability to do that is Newey and Ferrari have been linked with signing the 65-year-old.
Whether it would be possible to draw him away from Red Bull is another matter, although the internal politics within the team may force his hand.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory
Ferrari insiders echo Jacques Villeneuve’s thoughts on Charles Leclerc
The message from the Ferrari insider to Slater about Hamilton suggests that Charles Leclerc doesn’t have the reputation yet to lead a team chasing championships.
Jacques Villeneuve previously said this season that Leclerc hasn’t shown he’s a potential champion yet.
The Monegasque driver is seriously quick and in Japan and China, he showed how well he can execute a well-thought-out strategy to maximise how many points he can score.
However, coming up against Lewis Hamilton is an entirely different challenge and if he can get the better of the former world champion, then that will seriously enhance his reputation.
The post ‘I was speaking’: Craig Slater shares what Ferrari insiders told him about Lewis Hamilton ahead of 2025 move appeared first on F1 Oversteer.